Charges over NDIS grift
A Sydney syndicate has allegedly swindled $1.1 million from the NDIS.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) have arrested five people at two properties at Lurnea and Liverpool this week, seizing a Porsche Cayenne, an Audi A3 and a Mercedes E63 among other assets.
Investigators allege the group took the money from three National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) providers that it controlled.
They will argue that the centres fraudulently claimed over $1.1 million in NDIS payments from more than 70 disabled people.
The AFP expected there to be over 100 victims across syndicate's three providers - Universal Group Australia, Reliance Disability Services and United Mission.
“This is an organised criminal activity preying on those that society has chosen to help- it took money directly out of the pockets of NDIS participants, reducing their ability to obtain crucial assistance and services to help them lead their lives,” AFP Acting Commander Mark McIntyre said in a statement.
Investigators will go back over a total of $2.6 million in payments that the three providers received.
The syndicate also reportedly tried to register another four NDIS providers.
Acting Commander McIntyre said police were looking for similar syndicates.
“Unfortunately this is not an isolated case, and we will continue to work with our taskforce partners to identify those preying on our needy and bring them to account for their selfish and despicable actions,” she said.
Police are preparing to charge a 40-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman with obtaining a gain contrary to the criminal code and dealing with property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Two men, aged 27 and 30, and a 27-year-old woman are expected to be charged with dealing with property reasonably suspected to be proceeds of crime.
A 22-year-old woman will receive a court summons for allegedly providing false or misleading information.